Local RHP Koplove Signs With Phillies

The Philadelphia-born Koplove, 32, spent all of 2008 in AAA Las Vegas. He went 2-1 wiht a 3.46 ERA in 41 appearances. Prior to that, he spent much of 2006 and ’07 in minor league systems. His most notable season was 2002, when he finished 6-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 55 games for Arizona.

Koplove will be invited to Spring Training, but will likely be assigned to AAA Lehigh Valley.

9 Comments

Some info I dug up: Koplove’s a sidearm righty whose 90 mph fastball tails in to righthanders; he also throws a curve and a change. He induces a lot of grounders (53% in his minor league career), and doesn’t show crazy platoon splits that would limit him to “ROOGY” status (LHB .255 BAA, RHB .240 BAA).

It’s certainly under the radar, but it’s a smart signing. I’m a big fan of stocking Triple-A with fringe major league types, because if something clicks, you’ve found yourself a fungible major league reliever for nothing. Bullpens are so volatile that someone who’s good one year may be awful the next; the Phils are gambling that Koplove will catch lightning in a bottle (a la Durbin last year), and that’s a worthwhile gamble to make in my opinion.

Koplove is a south philly kid like the fullback in last night eagles game, Koplove played at barry playground which is a stone throw from the cbp. He throws in the 90 mph range. with some movement. could be a situatioal right hander don’t think he is another madson type. could help us if things fall right. I think he still resides in girard estate in south philly. He can walk to the vet. the kid the eagles used Eckels lived right in packer park, two blocks from the practice field .

This is a great depth signing because as we saw this season a great bullpen can get you a championchip. If madson and lidge stay healthy this season games could be 7 innings long and give the phillies alot of wins early in the season so the phillies dont have to clinch on the last or second to the last day. Koplove was on the d-backs 2001 world series team.

How many guys do you know have a World Series ring, a Triple A World Series ring, and an Olympic Bronze medal. This kid is someone the whole city of Philadelphia will rally around. He’s got nasty stuff, you’ll see.